ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan has expressed the government’s commitment to make Pakistan a strong country.
Participating in the budget debate in the National Assembly on Thursday, he said the economic indicators are improving with agriculture, industries and services sectors witnessing growth. He said Ehsaas program is aimed at realizing the vision of transforming Pakistan into a welfare state.
He said the health card initiative is helping the underprivileged segments of the society to get free of cost medical treatment. Ali Muhammad Khan said the present government has also started construction work on major dams such as Diamer Basha, Dasu and Mohmand which will help irrigate our land.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has set an example of across the board accountability under which those belonging to the ruling party are also facing cases. He said both the government and the opposition parties should work together to establish an Islamic economic system. He said we have to free the country of interest based system in order to take the country forward.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, in her budget speech, said the government has failed to fulfill the promises made for construction of five million houses and provision of ten million jobs to the youth. Dr Seemi Bukhari said it is a pro people budget. She said the minimum wages have been increased to twenty thousand rupees whilst the salaries of employees have been raised by ten percent.
She said the world institutions are also now recognizing the economic performance of the country. She said Prime Minister Imran Khan is the pride of Pakistan who thinks for the next generations and not the next elections. Hina Rabbani Khar criticized the government’s economic and foreign policies. She said the government is pursuing a regressive taxation system. Dr Ramesh Kumar commended National Command and Operation Center for effectively handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan is faced with many challenges and unity is the need of the hour to overcome them. He said the government should focus on public welfare projects. Ahmad Hussain Deharr said the government has given a comprehensive plan to lift the people out of poverty. He said the budget has given a ray of hope to the poor people.
Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jilani said steps should be taken to bring the prices of essential commodities such as flour and sugar within the reach of common man. He said salaries of employees should be enhanced by twenty five to thirty percent.
Shandana Gulzar said Ehsaas is an excellent program for economic empowerment of women. She said we need to take special steps to save the children from abuse. Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada said the budget envisages no measures for development of the agriculture sector.
Faiz Ullah said it is a special blessing of God Almighty and the visionary approach of Prime Minister Imran Khan that the country’s economy remained safe from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. He called for reforms in the civic service.